Web guiding roller and support



Feb. 4, 1969 F. LEMBO 3,425,608

WEBv GUIDING ROLLER AND SUPPORT Filed May 17, 1967 Sheet of 3b- 22a 2 a /9 INVENTOR. FQANK LEMBO kwab g ATTOQ/VE Y5 Feb. 4, 1969 F. LEMBO 3,

WEB GUIDING ROLLER AND SUPPORT Filed May 17. 1967 Sheet 3 of s 25 4/ ae 24 s 23 P a? 2 1 i r I I F F I f L- (I I a l INVENTOR. FRANK L EMBO BYSI ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,425,608 Patented Feb. 4, 1969 3,425,608 WEB GUIDING ROLLER AND SUPPORT Frank Lembo, 235 McLean Blvd., Paterson, NJ. 07504 Filed May 17, 1967, Ser. No. 639,184 US. Cl. 226-19 Int. Cl. B65h 25/ 26 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a web guide and refers more particularly to an automatic web guiding and aligning equipment.

Automatic web guides known in prior art operate with detectors sensing the edges of a moving web by air pressure supplied by a source of compressed air. Error signals are transmitted to valves to motor operated hydraulic work cylinders which adjust rollers guiding the web.

An object of the present invention is to improve web guides of this type by providing means which will easily and effectively actuate the web guiding rollers so as to swivel and traverse them for the purpose of aligning webs into a processing equipment.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found desirable to mount the web guiding rollers upon a support which can swing about a centrally located pivot and which at the same time is movable in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the web. The support is actuated by a hydraulic work cylinder which can be moved manually to the required angle. Thus the cylinder while moving the roller in the transverse direction will also swivel the support to the extent of a preset angle. This adjustment can be easily and quickly effected and can vary from 1 to 45.

The work cylinder is actuated in a manner known in prior art by the use of a sensing finger supplying a flow of air to an edge of the web from a mechanized air guide and valve. An air diaphragm is connected to the air valve and is also connected by means of a four-Way valve to a storage tank and pump and to the above described work cylinder.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a diagram illustrating the connections of the web guide assembly.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of a set of guide rollers and parts connected therewith.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the rollers shown 2, partly in section.

FIGURE 4 is a section along the line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

The drawings show a web 11 which is moved over guide rollers 12 in the direction of the arrow 42 into in FIG.

a processing equipment (not shown). Obviously, any suitable number of guide rollers may be used.

The automatic web guide includes sensing fingers 13, the number of which can be varied at will. A sensing finger 13 is connected to an air valve assembly 14 constituting a mechanized air guide. An air transmitting tube 15 is connected to the air valve assembly 14 and to an air nozzle 16 which directs a flow of air to the sensing finger 13. The air transmitting tube 15 is connected to a source 17 of compressed air supply and includes a regulator 18. The air valve assembly 14 is connected to an air diaphragm 19 which is connected with a four-way valve 20. A hydraulic pump 21 transmits pressure fluid from a storage tank 22 through a conduit 21a and through the four-way valve 20 to conduits 21b and 21c leading to a work cylinder 23 which is connected to the assembly of guide rollers 12. The valve 20 is operated by solenoids 20a, 20b and 200. The solenoid 20c is located in the conduit 21a while solenoids 20a and 20b are located in conduits 22a and 22b connecting the conduit 21a with the conduits 21b and 210, respectively. Switches 12a and 12b are connected with the guide roller assembly 12 and are used to operate the solenoids 20a and 20b. Conduits 23a, 23b and 23c constitute bleed or return lines to the tank 21.

In operation an edge of the web 11 passes through the sensing finger 13 and is subjected to air pressure by the air nozzle 16. An error signal is transmitted by the air valve assembly 14 to the air diaphragm 19 which, by means of the four-way valve 20, will drive the pump 21 operating the work cylinder 23.

The guide rollers 12 and the manner of operating them constituting the subject matter of the present invention, are illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. Two guide rollers 12 are mounted on shafts 24 which are carried upon opposed angular frames 25. The frames 25 are mounted upon a flat supporting plate 26. A vertical pivot stud 27 is fixed to the plate 26 close to one end thereof. The stud is embraced by an annular end of the piston rod 28 of the work cylinder 23. The work cylinder 23 is carried by an angular support 29 which is mounted upon a base 30 constituting a part of a frame 31. As shown in FIG. 4, the base 30 has a curved slot 32 which is graduated from 0 to 45. The radius of the curvature of the slot 32 extends to the center of the stud 27. The support 29 carries a bolt 33 which is used to fix the support and the work cylinder 23 carried by the support in any desired angular position in the slot 32.

A lower base plate 34 is located under the plate 26. The plates 26 and 34 are joined by a centrally located pivot stud 35 which makes it possible for the upper plate 26 to swivel relatively to the lower plate 34. Slides 36 made of suitable soft material are located between the plates 26 and 34 so as to facilitate the swivelling movement of the plate 26 relatively to the plate 34.

Furthermore, the two plates 26 and 34 can carry out jointly a transverse movement, namely a movement in a direction perpendicular to that of the web 11 passing over the rollers 12. For that purpose, the plate 34 is provided with two pairs of downwardly extending sleeves 37 and 38 located upon opposite sides of the plate. The sleeves 37 and 38 have linings of suitable soft material embracing pairs of hardened studs 39 and 40, respectively. The studs 39 are carried by the frame 31 while the studs 40 are carried by a frame 41 which is L-shaped in cross section and is located opposite the frame 31.

In use, the operator loosens the bolt 33 at the base of the hydraulic cylinder 23 and moves the cylinder 23 along the groove 32 to the required angle. Then the bolt 33 is tightened again.

When the hydraulic cylinder 23 is now operated, as the result of an error signal at the sensing finger 13,

it will move the top plate 26 in the direction of its stroke. The pivot stud 35 allows the top plate 26 to pivot on the slides 36. Since the top plate 26 is connected by the stud 35 to the bottom plate 34, both plates will move across the web 11. The sleeves 37 and 38 will slide upon the studs 39 and 40. Thus the plates 26 and 34 will carry out jointly a movement transverse to the direction of movement of the web 11 and at the same time the plate 26 carries out a swivelling movement relatively to the plate 34. Since the guide rollers 12 are firmly mounted upon the plate 26, they will participate in both movements.

The solenoids 20a and 20b operate in conjunction with their switches 12a and 12b to provide the required supply of oil and to stop this supply when the operation is accomplished.

It is apparent that this procedure makes possible a quick and easy adjustment of the rollers so as to properly align the web on its passage to a processing equipment.

The combination of a swivelling action having an adjust- L ment variable from 1 to 45 with a traversing motion provides a particularly effective action which is promptly transmitted to the web.

It is apparent that the example described above has been given solely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that it is capable of many variations and modifications within the scope of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a web guide, in combination with a web sensing device, a work cylinder actuated by said web sensing device, at least one roller guiding the web, means adjusting the position of said work cylinder relatively to said roller and means connecting said work cylinder with said roller to cause said roller to carry out simultaneously a swivelling movement and a transverse movement relatively to said web.

2. A web guide in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means connecting the work cylinder with the roller comprise an upper plate, frames carried by said upper plate and supporting said roller, and a pivot stud carried by said upper plate, said work cylinder having a piston rod having an outer end enclosing said pivot stud.

3. A web guide in accordance with claim 2, wherein the means adjusting the position of the work cylinder comprise a base having a curved slot and a bolt connected with said work cylinder and extending through said slot to fix the position of the work cylinder relatively to said slot, the radius of the curved slot extending to the center of said pivot stud.

4. A web guide in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a lower plate located substantially under said upper plate, a centrally located pivot stud interconnecting the two plates, and means guiding said lower plate for transverse movement relatively to said web.

5. A web guide in accordance with claim 4, further comprising slides located between the two plates.

6. A web guide in accordance with claim 4, wherein the means guiding the lower plate comprise at least one sleeve suspended from said lower plate, and a stud extending through said sleeve transversely to the direction of movement of said web.

7. A web guide in accordance with claim 4, wherein the means guiding the lower plate comprise two pairs of sleeves suspended from opposite ends of the lower plate, two pairs of studs extending through said sleeves transversely to the direction of movement of said web, and opposed frames carrying said studs.

US. Cl. X.R. 22622 

